A diversion of 7 kilometers from Dirang in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh leads to a secret offbeat destination called Sangti Valley. Inhabited by the Mahayana Buddhist Monpa tribe, a visit to the valley will surely be an explorer’s delight. The view of the eastern Himalayan foothills, the rural scenery, and the meandering boulder-strewn river across the valley makes it a Shangri-La in all sense.
The unmatched hospitality of the friendly Monpas and their unique traditions make it an interesting place for those who seek culture and off-beat adventure altogether. The sound of fluttering prayer flags outside the village houses, the hymns of the Buddhist chants and the spinning prayer wheels usher a sense of divinity at this place. A walk through the green pastures in the low-lying mountains in the company of grazing sheep, horses and ponies offer an astounding view of the valley. Sangti Valley is blessed with a fertile soil and has vast farms of Maize and different vegetables. The villagers also practice Apple and Kiwi farming and a visit to these fruit orchards will create memories that will last a lifetime.
A wooden bridge over the sinuous Dirang River leads to the enchanting reaches of the valley dotted with old rustic houses, Orange trees, and the paddocks. An evening spent here while lazing in the grass or taking a riverside stroll is truly mesmerizing. The villagers often can be seen angling with a few rejoicing when a Himalayan trout bites the bait. They also practice a primitive method of trapping fish by making fishing weirs with stones in a shallow area of the river where current is not at its swiftest point. Undeniably, an arduous approach for the sweetest reward!
At a distance of 7 kilometers from Sangti Valley on an uphill mountain lies the Kalibog village. The traditional Monpa homes at this village are built with an unusual architectural method where every house is made only of wooden planks without using even a single nail or rope. The amiable villagers in traditional attire smile with curiosity and always invite travellers to their home to ensure the warmest welcome and gracious hospitality.
Sangti valley is also home to the Black Necked Crane that migrates from China and settles in the valley during the winter months of November and December. According to the local belief, their presence is considered auspicious. Apart from the Black Necked Crane, birds like Brown Dipper and Long-Billed Plover can also be seen in and around the valley. The nearby Mandala village is a birding paradise where high altitude species can be sighted with ease during the winter season.
Staying at a homestay in Sangti Valley with basic amenities is an amazing experience combined with local cuisine of the Monpas. They say ‘the more pungent the smell of a Monpa dish is, the more flavourful it is!”’ Food is always complimented with a local drink made of Millet. A bowl of potent Millet wine ‘Ara’ is served with hot fermented butter and packs a heavy punch. One should not drink more than a bowl if any activities or hikes are planned for the next day.
How to Reach Sangti Valley
Sangti valley is well connected by roads from all the major cities of Northeast India, the nearest Railway station is in Guwahati and the closest airport to the valley is Salonibari Airport in Tezpur, Assam. Due to less flight frequency to Salonibari airport from major cities of India, it is advisable to fly to Guwahati’s, Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport. From Guwahati, the onward journey to Sangti can be done on a private taxi or a motorcycle for a hassle-free trip. A traveller can reach Sangti via two different routes from Guwahati via Tezpur or Kalaktang.
Via Tezpur – This is an old route that goes till Bum-La Pass. The journey starts at early morning from the Guwahati via Tezpur after crossing the River Brahmaputra. Total distance through this road to Dirang is 378 kilometers and a night halt in Bomdila is advisable.
Guwahati – Tezpur – Bomdila – Dirang – Sangti
Via Kalaktang – This a new road that goes close through the Bhutan border before reaching Kalaktang in Arunachal Pradesh. Total distance through this road is 315 kilometers to Dirang and a night halt at Kalaktang is advisable.
Guwahati – Bhairabkunda – Kalaktang – Sangti
There is so much to experience at Sangti Valley but it is still a lesser known destination of Arunachal Pradesh. One of the primary reasons being it always remained under the shadow of its touristy neighbour, Tawang. However, a visit to this off the beaten place can always be clubbed with a tour of Tawang. It is around the year destination and the best time to be in the valley is during the harvesting season and in monsoon when it turns completely green with so many other hues. Losar (a grand New Year festival based upon the lunisolar Tibetan calendar) is also a good time to travel to Sangti. Contact us to know more about this heavenly destination or let us create a bespoke tour of Sangti Valley for you.
Also, know about the ‘Detailed Travel Itineraries for Tawang’ – http://blog.kitemanja.com/detailed-tawang-tour-itinerary/
